Thornton Art Trail to return later this year with 70 artists

The event in Thornton will take place on June 6 and 7, and will see 70 artists exhibiting in more than 40 venues throughout the village.

Now in its third year, the Thornton Art Trail has quickly grown in size and reputation, with the first event featuring 30 artists and the second widely praised as a triumph.

Patrick Whitehead, a member of the steering committee, said: “I enjoyed chatting with the visitors and many had come from across West Yorkshire, including Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Otley and even York and Harrogate.

“Everyone was enthusiastic about the Art Trail, and all said that they hoped next year’s event would be over a weekend.

Deborah Newbould’s work creates sculptures from mixed clays and combustible materials (Image: Thornton Art Trail)

“It was a hugely successful and enjoyable event.

“The total number of visitors was way beyond my expectations.”

The trail will feature open studios, galleries, homes, and gardens, and invite visitors to explore the birthplace of the Brontë family.

Volunteers from the village will be on hand to guide visitors and distribute maps.

The organisers said the trail aims to be fun and inclusive, representing artists from all backgrounds and at every stage of their creative journeys.

This year’s event will showcase a broad range of artistic disciplines, from sculpture, printmaking and textiles to spoken word (Image: Thornton Art Trail)

The trail will also take visitors to key village landmarks, including St James’s Church, South Square, Sapgate Gardens, and the community centre.

This year’s event will showcase a broad range of artistic disciplines, from sculpture, printmaking and textiles to spoken word, photography, painting, stained glass, jewellery, and more.

Many artists will give live demonstrations, and several drop-in workshops will be open to the public.

Events include a live painting session by Jess Swift and a collage workshop led by Lauren Kelly, both taking place at Fountain Street Arts.

Lauren Kelly’s work is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose practice explores themes of nostalgia and youth culture (Image: Thornton Art Trail)

The art trail is supported by Sapgate Gardens Community Association and depends on sponsorship from local businesses to cover costs for printing and publicity.

Last year’s trail left a lasting impression on visitors, with one attendee saying: “I can’t believe that there are so many talented artists in Thornton.

“I’ve spoken to so many interesting creatives about their work and inspiration.

“The quality and diversity of art is amazing.”

Among this year’s exhibiting artists are Deborah Newbould, who creates sculpture from mixed clays and combustible materials; Steven A Spencer, a Bradford-born artist whose work spans fine art and graphic design; and Lauren Kelly, a multidisciplinary visual artist whose practice explores themes of nostalgia and youth culture.